Cheese package



Aug. 21, 1945. J SNYDER 2,383,352

CHEESE PACKAGE Filed Jan. 27, 1939 I :Lmes E'Sqyder Patented Aug. 21,1945 CHEESE PACKAGE James E. Snyder, Akron, Ohio, assignor to WingfootCorporation, Wilmington, Del., a corporation of Delaware ApplicationJuly 27, 1939, Serial No. 286,813

16 Claims.

This invention relates to a package and the method of forming the same.More particularly it relates to producing irom a fiat envelope a packingwhich in final form has approximately the shape of a right angledhexahedron. The material employed in forming the package is rubberhydrochloride film. The package may be used for materials such asprocess cheese, cream cheese, peanut butter. lard, margarine, chocolatesyrup. frozen foods and other products. The package is especiallysuitable for products of a greasy or juicy nature where a leakproof,airtight and moistureproof wrapping is required.

A preferred form of the invention is a package of cheese which has beenpackaged in a hot plastic condition. Process cheese or cream cheese maybe readily hot-packaged in an air-tight container as described herein.

The rubber hydrochloride film which is employed in producing thispackage is a non-tacky film such as that described in Calvert 2,139,647.In its manufacture,- it may be desirable to employ highly refinedsolvent in order to eliminate possible odor or taste. The film may beplasticized and may contain photochemical inhibitors such as describedin Calvert 1,989,632 except where such materials are detrimental, as inthe packaging of cheese or other food products which may take up someunfavorable taste from the stabilizer or plasticizer.

The method of forming the package is most easily described in connectionwith the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a side view 0! the envelope from which the package is formed.

Fig. 2a shows a side view of the envelope after being blocked to form asquare bottom bag.

Fi 2b is a bottom view of the same.

Fig. 3 shows the same with the ears turned up and the bottom inserted ina box.

Fig. 4a is an elevation of the same in the box with the top drawn out sothat the upper edges of the envelope meet.

Fig. 4b is a top view of the same.

Fig. 5a shows the top flange bent over and Fig. 5b is a top view of thesame.

Fig. 6a shows the package with the top ears folded in and down ready forcovering.

Fig. 6b is a top view of the same.

Figs. 7 and 8 show apparatus for blocking the flat envelope to form asquare bottom bag.

Fig. 9 shows an alternative form of seal.

The envelope shown in Fig. 1 is formed by doubling a fiat film of rubberhydrochloride and heat sealing ltat the edges b. The fold is shown at c.To form the heat-seal at the edges 1) the necessary heat is applied tosoften the rubber hydrochloride and make it tacky and by pressure theseam is formed. The temperature required depends upon the length of timethat the rubber hydrochloride is subjected to heat but a temperatureabove 200 F. will ordinarily be employed. The seams may be formed byrolling a hot iron over the edges or by pressing with a hot iron. Thissoftens the rubber hydrochloride and sufficient pressure is applied tounite the two faces within the area indicated by the dotted lines at theedges 1).

Various types of envelopes may be used in the formation of the package.Although an envelope of gusset or plicated end construction may be used,a perfectly fiat envelope is preferably employed. Instead of creasing asingle sheet of the rubber hydrochloride film as shown at c in Fig. 1,two pieces of film may be used and sealed together at c as well as at b.Or a single sheet may be used and folded at b, b and sealed at c and theseam joining the ends of the film may be located at one of the edges ofthe envelope or at some point intermediate the ends. Instead of heatingoverlapping portions of the film to unite them, adhesives, solvents,solvent and heat or other methods of making leak-proof seams may be usedin forming the envelope.

This envelope is then opened and blocked into a square bottom bag by anysuitable means. Apparatus for doing this is shown in Figs. 7 and 8. Theapparatus comprises the two blocks I which are fastened to a suitablesupport by the hinges 2 so that they may be tilted toward one another asshown in Fig. 7 and then brought to the upright position shown in Fig.8. This is done by moving the rod 3 which is connected to the blocks bythe toggle joint 4.

To block the envelope the rod 3 is lowered. This tilts the blocks towardone another. The envelope,

a, is then spread at the mouth and placed over the tilted blocks. It isbrought down over the blocks until the bottom touches the top of theblocks. The rod 3 is then raised so that the blocks are brought to theupright position. The envelope is smoothed down around the blocks. Thisproduces the triangular ears shown in Fig. 8 and also Figs. 2a and 2b.These ears are pressed to the side of the envelope (as shown in Fig. 3)as the envelope is fitted into the box e as a lining. This is preferablydone while the envelope is still on the former. By tilting the blocks ofthe former, the box and envelope are then removed from the former. Theenvelope clings to the box rather than the blocks assisted by staticelectrical attraction. Fig. 3 shows the box 6 with the bag or envelopein it. Figs. 2a and 2b show the bag in upright position with the ears dbrushed out horizontally before the box is placed over them.

The dotted lines indicated by the numeral in Figs. 7 and 8 representopenings in the blocks l for the passage of air. These prevent theformation of a vacuum which would complicate the removal of the blockedenvelope from the former, after the box has been placed over it.

The bag is filled when in the position shown in Fig. 3. For instance hotprocess cheese may be run into the bag to fill it to the level of thetop of the box e. Spreading fingers are then inserted in the open top ofthe bag and spread so as to extend the top of the envelope and bring thetop edges of the bag together as shown in Figs. 4a and 4b. Thisnaturally lowers the top of the bag and the spread portion which formsthe flange I extends along the center of the top of the box.

In the closing operation or after closing but prior to sealing, the topof the bag is pressed against the cheese or other contents so as toforce trapped air out from between the top surface of the contents andthe bag.

The flange is then heat-sealed throughout its length preferably as closeas possible to the surface of the contents by the application of acompletely transverse seal. Any suitable means for supplying heat andpressure may be employed. In Fig. 4a the letter 9 is used to indicatethree fine lines along which the opposite sides of the envelope havebeen united by heat to form a completely fiat transverse seal across thefiattened mouth portions of the bag.

The flange may then be folded down fiat over the contents of the filledbag into a plane transverse to that of the main and end panels of thebag as shown in Figs. 5a and 5b. By folding the ears in and then downonto the top of the bag the package assumes the form shown in Figs. 6aand 6b. It is then ready for closing. If a wooden box is used a woodencover may be nailed onto it. If a cardboard carton is used a similarcarton of somewhat larger size may be slipped over the top of thepackage to close it. After closing the box or carton the package may beturned upside down to shape the contents to the box and permit'any smallamount of trapped air accidentally remaining after pressing the envelopeonto the contents prior to sealing, to be distributed through the bodyof the contents by rising through it. All of any small amount of trappedair may be absorbed into the cooling cheese, for example, in this way,the oxygen thus being reduced ineflectiveness for support of mold orbacterial growth.

Air trapped in the triangular ears d of Fig. 2 and i of Fig. 6 may beprevented from contacting the contents of the package by sealing acrossthe ears at 7' in Fig. 2b and h in Fig. 5b. This may be done by grippingthe ears with heated irons along the lines and h.

Any of these heat-sealing operations may be done by hand but of courseare advantageously performed by suitable automatic apparatus. A machinedesigned for sealing this general type of package is shown in thecopending application Serial 438,073, filed April 8, 1942 by Charles E.Gardner.

Comparing the finished package with the envelope from which it is made,(disregarding the heat-sealed flange I oi Figs. 4a and 4b) the followingfacts are noted: The height of the package Plus its width equals thedepth of the envelope shown in Fig. 1. The length of the package plusits width equals the length of the envelope shown in Fig. l. The ears ofFigs. 2b and 4b are right angled triangles. Their height is one-half thewidth of the package. Accordingly, a flat envelope may readily bedesigned for producing a package of any dimensions. The package may be acube or any right angled hexahedron.

Instead of using a former such as shown in Figs. 7 and 8 to block theenvelope, any suitable means may be employed for lining the interior ofthe box with the envelope. For example, the envelope may be placed inthe box by hand and pressed down into the box until the bottom of theenvelope conforms to the interior of the box.

Although in a preferred embodiment of the invention prefabricated flatenvelopes are blocked and used to line the boxes or cartons, sheets orrolls of the rubber hydrochloride film may be made into square bottombags, preferably by automatic machinery, and placed in the boxes orcartons.

Any suitable means for lining the boxes with an air-tight lining ofrubber hydrochloride film with open ends protruding as in Fig. 3, may beused. The protruding open ends of the liner may be closed in any waythat results in a leakproof closure. In packaging cheese it is desirableor necessary to elminate trapped air before sealing the package.

When a flat envelope is used it may be closed in any suitable manner.Fig. 9 indicates an alternative method of sealing a package made from anenvelope. The envelope is first inserted in a box or carton as shown inFig. 3 and filled. The ends 1:, :c are first folded in onto thecontents, and then the sides 1/, u are folded into place. The foldingmay be reversed with the sides 1/, 1 first folded into place and thenthe ends a:, a. After the folds are made, trapped air is pressed out andthen the overlaps are sealed with heat and pressure to form an air-tightpackage.

The invention is advantageously employed in packaging process cheese andalso cream cheese which is run into the bag in a hot plastic conditionand then allowed to cool and set while contained in the bag and whilethe bag is in the box. The cooled and solidified cheese may then beeasily removed from the box while still in the bag by inverting the box.

The present invention has many advantages over the older methods ofpackaging, for example, process cheese. It permits the use of acompletely transparent wrapper, printed in'multicolor effects ifdesired, including complete transparency of all seams, folds andmultiple thicknesses of wrap. Mold growth is prevented. The package iswaterproof and highly moisturevapor-proof. Its attractiveness is notimpaired by prolonged exposure to damp atmospheres. The wrap is easilyremoved, i. e. portions do not tear off and cling to the contents, as isthe case for example in packaging cheese in metal foil.

I claim:

1. The method of forming a package from a flat envelope of sheetmaterial having a continuous fluid-tight and fusible inner surface thetwo walls of which at the top are free from seams and folds between theends thereof which comprises spreading the bottom of the envelope toconform to the interior of a box, filling the envelop to substantiallythe height of the upper edge of the box, separating said ends of thewalls of the envelope at the top thereof until the walls are broughttogether at the top and uniting them by heating to cause them tocoalesce.

2. The method of forming a package from a flat envelope of sheetmaterial having a continuous fluid-tight and fusible inner surface thetwo walls of which at the top are free from seams and folds between theends thereof which comprises spreading the bottom of the envelope toconform to the interior of a box, filling the envelope to substantiallythe height of the upper edge of the. box, separating said ends of thewalls of the envelope at the top thereof until the walls are broughttogether at the top and uniting them by heating to cause them tocoalesce, and after fllling the box and before sealing removing trappedair from the interior of the envelope.

3. The method of forming a package from a flat envelope of sheetmaterial having a continuous fluid-tight and fusible inner surface thetwo walls of which at the top are free from seams and folds between theends thereof which comprises spreading the bottom of the envelope toconform to the interior of a box, filling the envelope to substantiallythe height of the upper edge of the box, separating said ends of thewalls of the envelope at the top thereof until the Walls are broughttogether and heat-sealing the walls together at or near the top edgesthereof by a seal parallel to said edges.

4. The method of packaging material in a flat envelope of sheet materialhaving a continuous fluid-tight and fusible inner surfacethe two wallsof which at the top are free from seams and folds between the endsthereof which comprises opening and blocking the envelope so as toshorten the height thereof by an amount equal to one-half the width ofthe block formed, folding to the blocked envelope the ears produced atthe bottom by blocking and fitting the blocked envelope into a box tothereby line the box, filling the envelope and then separating said endsof the walls of the envelope at the top thereof to bring the wallstogether and heat-sealing the walls together across the top of the boxto make an airtight seal.

5. The method of packaging material in a flat envelope of sheet materialhaving a continuous fluid-tight and fusible inner surface the two walls.of which at the top are free from seams and folds between the endsthereof which comprises opening and blocking the envelope so as toshorten the height thereof by an amount equal to onehalf of the width ofthe block formed, folding to the blocked envelope the triangular earsthus produced at the bottom of the blocked envelope velope at the topthereof to bring the walls to-1 gether and to bring the envelope intocontact with the top of the contents of the package thereby producingears at the top of the package and a flange across the top of thepackage formed by'bringing the walls of the envelope together,heat-sealing the walls together across the top thereof to form apermanent flange and sealin the triangular ears at the bases thereof toprevent air trapped in the cars from aflecting the contents of thepackage.

6. The method of fluid-tight Packaging which comprises providing acollapsed envelop fluidtight on at least the inner surface thereof andhaving only two layers of flexible sheet material in face to faceposition including the seams, squaring-up said envelop, combining saiderected envelop with a carton, filling said envelop with contents,bringing the mouth portions of said filled envelop into flattened faceto face position, and then sealing said flattened mouth portions therebyto obtain a package completely free from reentrant folds and layers ofincreased thickness in the sealed regions.

7. The method of fluid-tight packaging which comprises providing a flatenvelop formed from fluid-tight flexible material with sealed regions inthe longitudinal marginal portions thereof and having only two layers ofsaid material in face to face position including said sealed regions,squaring-up said envelop, converting said sealed regions of the envelopinto flattened lateral flns pointing in the same direction, insertingsaid erected envelop into a carton, filling said envelop with contents,bringing the mouth portions of said fllled envelop into flattened faceto face position, and then applying a flat top seal to said mouthportions thereby to obtain a package completely free from reentrantfolds and intervening layers and from similar danger points of leakage.

8. The method of fluid-tight packaging which comprises providing acollapsed envelop constituted of fluid-tight flexible material havingmarginal strips thereof adhesively secured together in face to faceposition to form at least one longitudinal seam, squaring-up saidenvelop, combining said envelop with a carton, filling said squared-upenvelop with the contents, bringing the mouth portions of the envelopinto face to face position and into a single plane including the upperterminal portion of the longitudinal seam,

and then securing said mouth portions together thereby to obtain afluid-tight package having a single continuous seam including only twolayers of sheet material in face to face position.

9. The method of fluid-tight packaging which comprises providing acollapsed envelop constituted of flexible material fluid-tight andfusible on at least the inner face thereof and having marginal stripssealed together in face to face position to form at least onelongitudinal seam, squaring-up said envelop, combining said envelop witha carton, filling said squared-up envelop with a unitary amount ofmaterial to be packaged, bringing the mouth portions of the envelop intoface to face position and into a single plane including the upperterminal portion of the longitudinal seam, applying heat and pressure tosaid mouth portions to seal the filled envelop with a top closure seamforming direct continuation of said longitudinal seam whereby afluid-tightly sealed package is obtained having a single continuoussealed region including only two layers of the flexible material in faceto face position, and then closing said carton about the package.

10. A block of cheese enclosed in a rubber hydrochloride film consistingof a, single substantially rectangular sheet of material folded once onitself with each of the three edges of the portion of the sheet on oneside of the fold heatsealed against the corresponding edge of the sheeton the other side of the fold in face to face contact.

11. A block of cheese enclosed in a rubber hydrochloride film consistingof a single substantially rectangular sheet of material folded once onitself with each of the three edges of the portion of the sheet on oneside of the fold heatsealed against the corresponding edge of the sh'eeton the other side of the fold in face to face contact and with thesealed portions of the film folded flat against the surfaces of thecovered block of cheese.

12. A block of cheese enclosed in an air-free rubber hydrochloride filmconsisting of a single substantially rectangular sheet of materialfolded once on itself with each of the three edges of the portion of thesheet on one side of the fold heat-sealed against the corresponding edgeof the sheet on the other side of the fold in face to face contact.

13. The method of forming a cheese package from a fiat envelop of sheetmaterial having a continuous fluid-tight and fusible inner surface thetwo walls of which at the top are free from seams and folds between theends thereof, which comprises spreading the bottom of the envelop toconform to the interior of a box, filling the envelop with cheese inplastic condition to substantially the height of the upper edge of thebox, separating the ends of the walls of the envelop at the top thereofuntil the walls are brought together at the top and uniting them byheating to cause them to coalesce.

14. The method of forming a cheese package from a fiat envelop of sheetmaterial having a continuous fluid-tight; and fusible inner surface thetwo walls of which at the top are free from seams and folds between theends thereof, which comprises spreading the bottom of the envelop toconform to the interior of a box, filling the envelop with cheese inplastic condition to substantially the height of the upper edge of thebox, separating the ends of the walls of the envelop at the top thereofuntil the walls are brought together at the top and uniting them byheating to cause them to coalesce, and after filling the box and beforesealing, removing trapped air from the interior of the envelope.

15. The method of fluid-tight packaging which comprises providing a fiatenvelop constituted of a flexible material fluid-tight and fusible on atleast one face thereof folded over along a line to have its edges in asubstantially registering position and sealed along two marginal strips,said envelop having only two layers of said material in fact to faceposition including said sealed marginal strips, squaring-up said envelopto form a pair of main panels and a pair of end panels and a bottompanel and to convert said sealed marginal strips into medial finsflattened in the plane of said panels, filling said squared-up envelopwith contents, bending down the upper terminal portions of said envelopinto a plane transverse to that of said main and end panels, flatteningthe bent down mouth portions of said envelop in a single plane includingthe topmost portions of the lateral fin, and applying a completely flattransverse seal across said flattened mouth portions whereby a,hermetically sealed fluid-tight package is obtained having a uniformnumber of layers incorporated in its sealing region and being free fromreentrant folds and intervening layers of material and from similardanger points of leakage.

16. The method of sealing the top filling opening of a package halvingoppositely disposed pairs of main panels and sidepanels and having amedial fin extending along and in the plane of at least one of said sidepanels, which comprises bending down the upper terminal portions ofsaidpackage into a substantially horizontal plane, flattening the mouthportions of said package in a single plane including the top portions ofsaid fin, and applying a fiat transverse seal across said flattenedmouth portions whereby a hermetically sealed fluid-tight package isobtained free from reentrant folds and intervening layers of materialand from similar danger points of leakage. 1

JAMES E. SNYDER.

